Expressions of Interest are open for our People Management, Financial Management and Livestock Parasite Management Focus Groups.
What is a Focus Group?
- Small groups of farmers with a shared interest in a specific topic.
- Topic focused and outcomes driven.
- Regular meetings over 18 to 24 months to discover, learn and commit to business changes.
- Limited spaces to ensure everyone can contribute and benefit.
Why join a Focus Group?
- Collaboration with other farmers and experts to gain valuable insights.
- Exploring what works and sharing experiences with fellow members.
- Learning from both peers and subject matter experts.
- Support to achieve your goals and improve farm productivity and profitability.
- Participation in a structured, results driven programme.
- Hands-on experience through practical application.
- Building long term connections with like-minded farmers.
Who should apply?
These Focus Groups are suited to farmers who:
- Actively farming sheep and beef or dry stock (associated levy payers).
- Able to attend all sessions except where unavoidable circumstances arise.
- Willing to learn new skills and improve farm production and profitability.
Key information
- Focus Groups are funded by the B+LNZ Levy.
- Participant costs limited to travel.
- Locations and dates confirmed once groups are formed.
- Places are limited.
Explore our Focus Groups
1) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOCUS GROUP
This Focus Group includes eight workshops delivered over two years. The programme has been designed and delivered by B+LNZ Extension Manager Lesley Coppell, drawing on more than 20 years of banking experience.
The content focuses on helping farmers confidently engage with banks and stakeholders, understand their financial position, and make informed decisions in a changing operating environment.
What you will gain:
- Confidence in financial decision making and bank conversations.
- Stronger understanding of profit and loss, balance sheets and cashflow.
- Improved ability to manage risk and plan for uncertainty.
- Practical budgeting, forecasting and benchmarking skills.
- Shared learning with farmers facing similar challenges.
- Tools and insights for direct application to your business.
- Trusted relationships with like-minded farmers.
Workshop topics:
- Understanding financials, KPIs and benchmarking.
- Budgeting and forecasting.
- Livestock flows, cashflow and variance analysis.
- Improving business efficiency and using AgTech.
- Banking fundamentals including interest rates, debt structuring and capital options.
- Identifying and managing business risk.
- Farm investment strategies and opportunity analysis.
- Long term planning and succession.
Programme requirements:
- Sharing a small amount of farm performance and financial data.
- Commitment to taking actionable steps between sessions.
- Contribution to group discussions and learning.
2) PEOPLE MANAGEMENT FOCUS GROUP
Your team is your biggest asset and your biggest opportunity.
Farmers are skilled at growing grass and livestock. Growing people can be more challenging. This Focus Group has been developed with No8HR to build confidence in people management, leadership and communication.
Combining theory with practical application, you will build core skills and apply them on farm between sessions while learning alongside a small group of like-minded farmers.
What you will gain:
- Confidence to lead and manage your team effectively.
- Improved communication and understanding of your leadership style.
- Practical tools to lift efficiency and workplace culture.
- Coaching skills to maximise team performance.
- Stronger understanding of employment law and performance management.
- A peer network to share ideas and solutions.
Workshop topics:
- Workstyles and communication.
- Building a team.
- Employment law and performance management.
- Maximising performance through delegation, coaching and performance plans.
- Next steps in productivity gains including planning and lean.
Programme commitment:
- At least one staff member on farm.
- Commitment to a seven module programme over 12 months.
- Willingness to participate in group learning and application.
3) LIVESTOCK PARASITE MANAGEMENT FOCUS GROUPS
Struggling with drench resistance? You are not alone.
Beef and Lamb New Zealand is running Livestock Parasite Management Groups to support farmers to tackle drench resistance and improve profitability.
These groups bring together farmers across different ages and farm systems, with guidance from experienced local vets.
What you will gain:
- Practical knowledge to manage parasites and tackle drench resistance.
- Support from experienced local vets.
- Insights from other farmers in your area.
- Confidence to make better parasite management decisions.
- Practical solutions for application on your farm.
What to expect:
- Facilitated sessions led by experienced vets.
- Wairarapa group led by Sara Sutherland, Wormwise trainer and vet.
- Tararua group led by Rachael Fouhy, vet.
- Open discussion, shared learning and real on farm results.
Register your interest
Take the next step towards a stronger, more resilient farm business and register your interest in our Focus Groups.
For more information, contact Extension Manager - ENI South Lesley Coppell | [email protected] | 027 274 3966